Cyclops, Beast, Jean Grey, Angel, Rogue, Iceman, Storm, Wolverine, Gambit, and all the other students at The Xavier Institute have captured the imagination and attention of fans since their first appearances in 1963.

The clashes between powered mutants and their mighty foes offer many opportunities for dramatic storytelling and the development of colorful characters.

If you personally don’t need to stick around the X-Men universe and would like to sell your comic books, you might be in luck. Selling X-Men comic books can be profitable, especially if you have sought-after issues in great condition.

What are X-Men comic books worth?

Though X-Men comics aren’t as valuable as Superman comics, Batman comics, or Spider-Man comics, the right issues can still fetch very high prices at auction. A copy of X-Men #1 from 1963 can fetch as much as $871,999 in Gem Mint condition, whereas the same issue in Good condition may be worth a little over $3,000.

Other comics may bring a couple of hundred dollars or less. In comic books, as with all collectibles, you may get used to hearing the words “it depends.”

Of course, many people who come to us have stacks of boxes full of comic books, and in bulk an entire collection can be worth a great deal.

What determines the value of X-Men comics?

Several factors go into determining the value of any given comic book:

1. The age of the comic book. As noted, original print and storyline runs are especially valuable.
2. The condition of the comic. Mint, near-mint, and gem mint comics are in the best shape and thus fetch the highest prices.
3. The rarity of the comic book. Some issues and variants are especially difficult to find.
4. The significance of the comic. For example, you might get a better price for a near-mint Uncanny X-Men #129 from 1980, as it offered the first appearance of the beloved characters Kitty Pryde and Emma Frost.

Finally, the value of your comic can depend greatly on whom you sell it to. If you choose to sell it at auction (live or online), you’ll get a better chance of selling it for a higher price than you would if you sold it on eBay or Craigslist. It’s all about getting your comics in front of the right X-Men enthusiasts who are willing to pay for them.

Let your old comic books mutate into fresh money

Our superpower is to help you get the best price for your comic books at auction. If you’ve got X-Men comics you’d like to part with, don’t throw them away or donate them to the thrift store. Call Central Mass Auctions at 508-612-6111 or email us to schedule an appraisal today.

Even if we judge by name-recognition and number of movie adaptations alone, Spider-Man is one of the most popular superheroes ever created. His popularity also shows in auctions of Spider-Man comic books. Yours may be worth something, whether you have one mint-condition issue or a collection. Contact Central Mass Auctions today, or read on to find out more.

What are Spider-Man comics worth?

It depends on which comic you have. The original Amazing Spider-Man comics are the rarest and most valuable. Writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko released the original series from March 1963 to July 1966. There are 38 issues. If you have any of those, you’re sitting on real value.

For example, The Amazing Spider-Man #1 could be worth as much as $336,000 if it’s in mint or near-mint condition. That particular issue is the most expensive book ever sold in the comic book market. The second issue of the series is worth as much as $168,000.

Even relatively new comics, such as Amazing Spider-Man #569, published in 2008, can be worth as much as $350. Of course, many other books, series, and issues exist – some highly valuable, some just fun to read.

What determines the value of your Spider-Man comic book?

After the issue’s rarity and popularity, the comic’s condition is the most important factor. Comic books come in grades:

• Poor (P)
• Fair (F)
• Good (G)
• Very Good (VG)
• Fine (F)
• Very Fine (VF)
• Near Mint (NM)
• Mint (M)
• Gem Mint (GM)

Grade intersects with the issue’s rarity, popularity, and historical significance. An Edge of Spider-Verse #2 comic graded “very fine” may be worth just $70, but a Gem Mint condition of the same comic can be worth $13,000.

Getting your comics professionally appraised is important if you hope to sell them. The comics collectible market can be complex, and the collectors are willing to pay major money for change yearly.

Don’t rely on your Spidey Sense to tell you what it’s worth

You don’t have to become an expert to get top dollar for your Spider-Man comics. You just need to call Central Mass Auctions to schedule an appraisal. We’ll help you find out how much money your comics are worth, and if you decide to sell we can get you in touch with the legions of Spider-Fans who are willing to pay top dollar for the issues missing from their collections. Don’t get tangled in the web of selling on eBay.

Call Central Mass Auctions at 508-612-6111, or email us.

You may be fascinated by the medical antique you own, or at least fascinated to know what it can get at auction, but if you try to sell it yourself you’ll probably bleed money. It is difficult to know whether your item is valuable to a collector, or just old. It is even harder to find that collector (who is unlikely to spend much time on sites like eBay). If you’ve got a piece that a surgeon or other practitioner of medicine may have uses, Central Mass Auctions can help you sell it for the most at auction. Contact us today or read on to find out more about medical antiques.

Codman & Shurtoff dental kit sold for close to $1,800 at one of our Brookline auctions

SS Rita Spanish-American War medicine chest – sold for $920

What’s considered a medical antique?

The older it is, the less “medical” it may seem. Like most of history, the history of medicine is gory. From medieval times through the late 1700’s barbers also acted as surgeons. Barber-surgeons lacked training and many were even illiterate. Prevailing thought was that there were “humour” in the body consisting of blood, phlegm, black bile and yellow bile. The humours needed to be in balance. An excess of blood was thought to be the source of maladies from fevers to headaches. Bloodletting was a common practice of the time and barbers had the razors and other tools to “cure” their patients of this “excess blood”. Barber-surgeons not only performed bloodletting but lanced boils, pulled teeth and even performed amputations. The red-and-white striped barber poles with which we are familiar originated with barber-surgeons who hung bandages before and after use around a pole. In any event, any item used by surgeons (licensed or de facto) from the 18th Century or before may be valuable, depending on its condition, story, and rarity.

Folk art barber pole & sign brought nearly $1,900 at auction

The US Civil War brought horrific injuries on an daily scale basis and so the medic’s tent held many instruments that saw constant use. The National Library of Medicine states, “Although the exact number is not known, approximately 60,000 surgeries, about three quarters of all of the operations performed during the war, were amputations.” Minnie balls, from Civil War rifles, often resulted in shattered bones because of the round, blunt nature of the projectile. Infection was always a risk, and amputation lessened the risk of an infection which might have resulted in death. Soldiers often suffered through the surgery without the benefit of anesthesia. Some Civil War doctors became so practiced at amputating limbs that they could perform the operation in less than 2 minutes.

Medical items from the past are collected by doctors who enjoy the history of their craft, as well as by other history buffs. Civil War collectors may also seek surgical kits and other items used by doctors during the war. The kits are most desirable when they are in the original velvet lined box. The boxes have slots fitted for the shape of all of the instruments. Some of the instruments in a typical kit are scalpels, forceps, amputation knives and saws.

Other sought-after medical antiques are apothecary bottles and jars, brass medical microscopes, medical photographs, medical advertising broadsides, posters, and quack medical devices. Quack devices often contained ultraviolet lights that were touted to cure everything from constipation to paralysis.

When you think about the pain, danger and lack of knowledge involved with medicine in the past, your next visit with your dentist or doctor might seem more mellow and almost enjoyable.

Contact Central Mass Auctions for an appraisal

We can help you sell your medical collectibles for more than you’d get on eBay or Craigslist or with most other auctioneers or auction houses. The first step is an appraisal. We work with clients throughout New England. You can contact us to get started.

Many antique shop owners have found that selling smaller items is a formula that works well for them.  Some proprietors rent space in display cases or booths to dealers who pay them a monthly fee.  Other shop owners have a mixture of furniture and smaller items of their own that they sell.  Anthony Brooks has opened a shop that specializes in larger items such as salvaged cars and industrial pieces that may have otherwise been discarded.  Reaction seems to be overwhelmingly positive with the shop drawing a steady stream of customers.

Anthony grew up in Auburn and liked to hunt for antiques since he was around ten years old.  He dug old buried bottles and salvaged things from the Auburn dump.  He liked to see the cars a neighbor, who had a salvage business, picked up.  A successful, local antique dealer also made an impression on him.

Anthony Brooks in his “Blue Collar Vintage Salvage” shop

When he got older, Anthony and his brother formed Brooks Brothers Used Auto Parts in Worcester, which they ran for 20 years.  Anthony started picking up other items besides cars and filled a container full of pieces to sell at his Southbridge Street location in Worcester.

He has now opened a shop at a new location at 468 Auburn Street in the Cherry Valley section of Leicester, where all of his wares can be viewed and purchased by the public.  The shop is open from 11:00 to 5:00 on Saturday and sometimes on Sundays.

There is an interesting mix of items to peruse.  You’ll see salvaged cars as you are pulling in along with other items ranging from vending machines to industrial components from local mills.  He seeks out old mills, machine shops, factories and other closed businesses.  He does what he calls “organic picking”.  He only sells items that he’s purchased directly from the source.

Anthony credits his parents for providing a good foundation for his entrepreneurial activities.  His wife, Heather, is also supportive of his business.  Anthony said she sometimes even accompanies him on his picks.  He said there have been instances where he has less than an hour to look through a building and he can use the extra help.

One of his best finds was when he was asked to clear out an old Worcester sports equipment factory.  He found baseball catchers’ masks from the early 1900’s and labels with colorful graphics.

Anthony said that he doesn’t typically post items on the web.  He wants people to stop by his shop and take a look at the antiques and curiosities that he finds.  He enjoys seeing people reminisce about the items in his shop.  Anthony said that he has regular buyers from the West Coast.  Some of his pieces are being used as props in the new Disney movie, “The Finest Hours”.  It’s worth a visit to check out his latest finds.

I will be taking part in a number of upcoming events.  Downsizing seminars will be held at the Paxton Senior Center on February 17^th and at the Auburn Senior Center on March 29^th.  I will also be appraising antiques for a Quaboag Historical Society on March 6^th.  Registration is taking place for my “Evaluating Your Antiques” class on April 4^th.  The class is part of the Bay Path Evening School offerings in Charlton.  Details can be found at www.centralmassauctions.com.

Contact us at: Wayne Tuiskula Auctioneer/Appraiser Central Mass Auctions for Antique Auctions, Estate Sales and Appraisal Services www.centralmassauctions.com  (508-612- 6111), info@centralmassauctions.com

Many people are finding that they no longer need the large home or number of possessions that they have accumulated.  When children grow up and leave home, buying a condominium where someone else cuts the grass and clears away the snow may become more appealing.

Of course, there are many steps that you need to take when transitioning from a home full of belongings to a smaller, more manageable space.  There are also many options to consider when selling your personal property.

The first step is to decide which items you want to keep, determine if any will be distributed to family members and evaluate what is left to be sold.  There are a number of factors that will influence your decision.  If you are moving to Florida you may want to leave all of the brown furniture behind.  Rattan furniture with light colored fabrics will fit in better there.  With the cost of shipping, it might be better to buy a furnished condo or purchase new items when you arrive at your new home.

Hartford, CT home downsizing sale in 2014

When you have decided what will be sold you need to determine how to sell it all.  Quality and quantity both matter.  If there are just a few valuable pieces like antiques, gold jewelry, Sterling silver, coins and important collections we advise people to sell them at auction.  If you have a large amount of items that aren’t antique an estate sale may be a better option.  Almost anything can be sold at an estate sale, from bath towels to cars.  Sometimes both methods are used with better items being sold at auction and the rest being offered at an estate sale.  An estate sale company will have a minimum value where it is profitable for them to run your sale though.  If you only have a few items, you may want to run a tag sale yourself or donate them.

Pricing items at an estate sale is more complicated than you might think.  If you price things too low, you lose potential profit.  If you price things too high, you have a lot of disappointed people come through and find you are left with a home full of remaining items.  Running another sale the following week won’t draw as many buyers if you overprice items.  You really have only one chance to do it right.

Prices can vary greatly between locations.  We’ve run sales throughout Massachusetts and in other New England states.  Items will command a higher price in some areas than in others.  If you are running your own yard sale or donating only a few items it might not make a big difference but it can be significant with an entire estate.  If you are unsure whether an items is valuable you should get it appraised.  You don’t want to find your item in a newspaper article showing that someone bought something at a yard sale for $5 that’s worth $50,000.

The owner of a company who assists Seniors who are relocating, a realtor who often works with Seniors who are downsizing and I are running presentations on downsizing.  The “Thinking of downsizing?” seminar will take place at the Oxford Senior Center on Thursday, February 11^th at 12:30 and at the Paxton Senior Center on Wednesday February 17^th at 11:00 AM.  Hope to see some of you there!

Contact us at: Wayne Tuiskula Auctioneer/Appraiser Central Mass Auctions for Antique Auctions, Estate Sales and Appraisal Services www.centralmassauctions.com  (508-612- 6111), info@centralmassauctions.com

In previous columns I offered a top 10 list of antiques and collectibles that are selling well.  Items included early Asian antiques, historical memorabilia and antique paintings by listed artists.  More modern items included comic books, toys, sports memorabilia and advertising signs from the 1960’s and earlier.  Gold coins and jewelry and Sterling silver serving pieces continue to bring strong prices.  There are many other items that are still desirable, but didn’t make our list.  Rock and Roll memorabilia deserves a closer look.

Ringo Starr recently auctioned many items from his personal collection.  His copy of the “White Album” numbered 0000001 had a pre-sale estimate of $40,000 to $60,000.  It sold for $790,000.  A Rickenbacker guitar gifted to Starr by John Lennon went for $910,000.  Ringo Starr’s 1963 Ludwig drum kit used to record Beatles classics like “Can’t Buy Me Love” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand” brought $2.2 Million dollars.

Having direct ties to the performer greatly affects the value of memorabilia.  Because the items listed above were consigned directly from Ringo Starr, the provenance was impeccable.  “Merriam Webster’ defines provenance as “the history of ownership of a valued object or work of art or literature”.  Other items with great provenance that sold well were Elvis Presley’s first recording which was purchased at auction by rock artist Jack White.  A recently discovered guitar used by John Lennon and George Harrison fetched $2.4 million at auction.

You may not have anything this valuable but there are many other pieces collectors want.  People often ask me about the value of record albums.  The wear on the record and the dust jacket greatly affects the value.  Many records were played over and over by the owner.  Collectors want records that are in fine condition with little wear.  Some of the earliest Beatles albums and other early Rock albums typically bring the strongest prices.  However, there are some 78 rpm Blues albums that can be worth even more than Rock records.  There are different versions of albums and the cover and label can also make a big difference in value. Promotional copies were often distributed to radio stations, reviewers, and others to help get some publicity for a new release.  Gold and platinum records are awards given to artists and others who were involved with the production of records with high sales.  Copies that were presented to the artist and the popularity of the record and the artist factor into values.  An RIAA label on the gold or platinum record means that it was issued by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Eddie Money saxophone from Rock and Roll collection that brought thousands in our September 2011 auction

Rock and Roll promotional posters aren’t uncommon to find.  Psychedelic designs from the 1960’s advertising popular bands in concert are some of the most valuable.  The artwork from these posters is highly desirable and some sell for thousands.

There are many other pieces that can be desirable.  Contracts, clothing and other personal property can be valuable.  Photos of the celebrity together with the piece that you own can prove that your item was used by them.  Having a great piece of Rock history with the right provenance can send your piece to the top of the charts.

We continue to add more photos of items in our January 28^th live antique estates auction.  We often need to run estate sales on short notice to meet client deadlines.  Please keep checking our website www.centralmassauctions.com for updates, join our email list or follow us on social media to keep updated on upcoming events.

Contact us at: Wayne Tuiskula Auctioneer/Appraiser Central Mass Auctions for Antique Auctions, Estate Sales and Appraisal Services www.centralmassauctions.com  (508-612- 6111), info@centralmassauctions.com

Marilyn Treichel’s antique Christmas collection began when her husband and she purchased a box lot at an auction.  Her $100 purchase contained paper and glass ornaments from the 1920’s and 1930’s.  She bought books on Christmas antiques and eventually joined a group of other Christmas collectors, “The Golden Glow of Christmas Past”.

Marilyn and her husband made trips to the East Coast from their Wisconsin home every summer to hunt for Christmas collectibles.  They searched along routes that were packed with antique shops in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.  The couple attended auctions and went to antique shows, including Brimfield.  Marilyn also searched for Period furniture to fill her house on her trips east.  It is a replica of a home from “Historic Deerfield” in Deerfield, Massachusetts.

       Turn of the century cotton Christmas ornament

Marilyn’s collection is focused on 1920’s and earlier Christmas items.  She is especially fond of cotton and paper ornaments from the turn of the century.  Some of the cotton ornaments look like Snow babies with children in winter clothes.  Santa Claus and animals are other popular figures.  She also collects Dresden ornaments which are embossed cardboard designs of birds, other animals, people, etc.  Her husband looks for wire wrap Christmas ornaments.  Glass ornaments and other Christmas decorations were tied together with wire to create larger ornaments.

German store display with slot for letters to Santa

Marilyn doesn’t just focus her collecting on ornaments.  Among other things, she has some Santa “woodcutter” candy containers from 4 to 29 inches in height.  They were produced in Germany around the turn of the century.  Most depict Santa with a short coat and pants.

As with other antiques and collectibles, some of the more valuable items are being reproduced.  Marilyn advises that you study books and learn as much as you can before you start to collect.  She also recommends buying items at the Golden Glow of Christmas Past’s annual show.  The group consists of 1,600 members internationally.  Their conference and show is held in different venues around the country every July.

There is good news for those of you who have antique Christmas decorations that have been passed down through your families as well as long time collectors.  Marilyn said that prices of antique Christmas items continue to rise.  Prices have more than doubled, with ornaments that she used to be able to regularly buy for $10 now selling for over $25.  Marilyn states that some early candy containers can sell for $6,000 to $7,000.  With the prices currently so high she is more of a seller than a buyer now.  I hope that all you are having a wonderful holiday season!

We continue to pickup some great items for our January 28^th live antique estates auction.  The latest is a French newspaper with a sketch on it signed by Pablo Picasso.  Please keep following us on the web as we are planning some estate sales as well.

Contact us at: Wayne Tuiskula Auctioneer/Appraiser Central Mass Auctions for Antique Auctions, Estate Sales and Appraisal Services www.centralmassauctions.com  (508-612- 6111), info@centralmassauctions.com

The Discovery Channel’s show “Oddities” profiles New York City’s “Obscura Antiques and Oddities.”  Their shop carries a wide range of bizarre objects.  Items they sell include taxidermy animals of many kinds, artwork from human hair and fingernails, poisons and some things that are just too graphic for this column.

We haven’t sold anything on that level but have auctioned some unique and often interesting items that we have found in estates.  Many antique collectors and dealers want something that is a little different.  They want that piece that will make visitors to their home take a second look.

One unusual piece that we sold was a rogue’s gallery desk for police wanted posters.  The desk had a wooden roll top.  It was originally used in a police station.  When the desk top was unrolled all of the public offenders’ posters were on view for the police to try to apprehend.   We’ve also sold wanted posters in other auctions and World War II era records from New Haven Railroad police department arrests.

Milton Berle tractor from our September 2011 auction

A number of interesting toys have been sold in our auctions.  A Marx tin windup tractor had Milton Berle driving it.  His head spun back and forth.  The tractor was plastered with sayings like “Give the Dial a Twirl to see and hear Berle” and “I’m Milton.  Who are you?”  Another toy we sold depicted a boy in a spacesuit with a bubble helmet holding a ray gun.  Space toys from the 1950’s seem kitschy to us now.  This makes them very collectible though.

Dental gold can vary in purity from 10 or 12 karats up to 20 or 22 karats.  It averages about 67% pure.  We’ve found a fair amount in estates over the years that we’ve sold.  Bidders aren’t squeamish and it sells for as much as other gold.

We’ve sold photo albums from World War I and II with photos depicting some of the horrors of war.  One pictured the scene after Teddy Roosevelt’s son, Quentin Roosevelt plane was shot down in World War I.

There are a number of other unique items we’ve handled.  We sold an antique living room set with the legs and arms made of steer horns.  There were 2 chairs and a sofa.  It was upholstered in royal purple velvet.  It may not be a good fit for many New England homes but brought a strong price at auction.  A Civil War surgeon’s set with all of the medical tools for performing operations in the field also drew strong bidding.  Mourning was very different in the Victorian era and prior.  We’ve sold mourning jewelry with the hair of the departed enclosed inside of jewelry.

Campbell’s Soup paper dress from our May 2006 auction

We once cleared out a collection that filled an entire cellar from floor to ceiling of a home.  There were many mid-century appliances, antiques and vintage collectibles, many in the original boxes.  When we sorted through everything I found a number of rolls of antique and vintage toilet paper.  After my auction staff was finished having a few laughs for offering them for sale, they brought well over $50 at auction.

We continue to pickup up items for our January 28^th live antiques auction.  See www.centralmassauctions.com for links to both events.

Contact us at: Wayne Tuiskula Auctioneer/Appraiser Central Mass Auctions for Antique Auctions, Estate Sales and Appraisal Services www.centralmassauctions.com  (508-612- 6111), info@centralmassauctions.com

As I research and share articles on social media sites like Google+ and LinkedIn, I find many that I believe would also be of interest to readers of this column.

An auctioneer from Arizona wrote a column on five collectibles he predicts will go up in value.  Porcelain and other old advertising signs and vintage toys were also in my “antiques and collectibles top 10 list” in a previous column.  His list also included vinyl records, turntables and vintage fishing lures (especially those with glass eyes).

A Casper, Wyoming newspaper column offers recommendations for hiring an estate sale company.  They suggest looking at the company on the Better Business Bureau website.  Check with friends, family and professionals such as attorneys for recommendations.  Ask if there are fees in addition to the commission and how long will the process take.  Find out how negotiations are handled.  See how items remaining after the sale are handled.

DNA technology may be used to deter art forgeries.  A forgery scandal forced the closing of the oldest gallery in Manhattan.  Many art experts won’t authenticate a previously unknown painting by a well known artist.  They are subject to lawsuits if they misidentify a piece.  A scientist from the Cancer Research Center at the University of Albany has suggested using synthetic DNA to track artwork.  When a piece has been authenticated a DNA sticker is attached to the back that can be tracked through a centralized database.

An intern made a discovery that helped save a New York City house museum.  The intern was searching through documents in the attic of the Morris-Jumel Mansion in Manhattan.  She was looking through the folder of Nicholas Roche.  Roche was an 18^th century doctor who treated slaves in New York and New Jersey.  She recognized a document from her college studies as being “The Twelve United Colonies, by their Delegates in Congress, to the Inhabitants of Great Britain.”  It was estimated that the document would bring $100,000 to $400,000 to help with the $350,000 needed for restoration of the museum.  At auction it brought over $900,000!

In other auction news, a guitar played by John Lennon and George Harrison sold for $2.4 million.  Lennon used the guitar to write and record “Love me Do” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand”.  A San Diego resident bought the guitar 50 years ago for $275.  An expert used the markings, serial number and wood grain to confirm that it belonged to the former members of the Beatles.

The “Blue Moon Diamond” recently sold for $48.4 setting an auction record.  A Hong Kong businessman recently bought the 12.08 carat diamond for his 7 year old daughter, Josephine.  He renamed the diamond “The Blue Moon of Josephine”.  He also recently purchased a pink 16.0 carat pink diamond.  He also gifted that to his7 year old daughter and it is now called “Sweet Josephine”.  It’s a great way for Josephine to start the holiday season!

1965 GMC Hot Rod Pickup in Our Ashburnham Online Auction

The preview for the Ashburnham online vintage auto parts, vehicles and home furnishings auction will be Saturday December 12^th and Sunday December 13^th from 9:00 to 3:00 at 3 Main St.  We continue to pickup up items for our January 28^th live antiques auction.  See www.centralmassauctions.com for links to both events.

Contact us at: Wayne Tuiskula Auctioneer/Appraiser Central Mass Auctions for Antique Auctions, Estate Sales and Appraisal Services www.centralmassauctions.com  (508-612- 6111), info@centralmassauctions.com

The production of United States coins has been influenced by historical events.  Wars, metal shortages, the Great Depression and other events all impacted coin production.

If you are handling a U.S. coin collection from an estate or your own home, there are coin price guides and websites that can help.  However, this column will offer a broad overview of what to check when you are looking through these coins.

I estimate that about 30% of the estates that I handle have some form of coin collection.  Only about half of these are desirable enough to be sold in our antique auctions.

Following are some guidelines that can help you determine whether you have coins that may be valuable.  Silver dollars, half dollars, quarters and dimes from 1964 are made of 90% silver.  Kennedy half dollars were made with 40% silver from 1965 to 1970.  Any coins that you have that fit into these categories are worth more than the face value of the coins.

There are other factors that influence coin value.  Age is important.  In general, older coins are typically more valuable for a number of reasons.  One reason being that there were typically fewer produced.  For example, 1964 Kennedy half dollar production numbers were 273,304,004 for the Philadelphia Mint and 156,205,446 for those made in Denver.  By comparison, 100 years earlier in 1864, only 658,000 Seated Liberty half dollars were minted in San Francisco and 379,000 were produced in Philadelphia.  Many of the older coins that were produced are now gone.  Some have been melted down for the metals while others were lost or just wore out over the years.  When older coins in better condition do turn up they command a premium well above the value of the silver.

A Morgan Silver dollar that will be sold in our January 28th auction

Here are a few additional factors that can make your coins desirable.  Where the coin was minted is important.  There was a silver rush near Carson City, Nevada when the Comstock Lode was discovered in 1859.  A mint was built in Carson City and coins with the CC mint mark are very desirable with collectors.  The mint mark and small details like the number of arrows on a particular coin can make a huge difference in the value.

The price of gold is about 75 times the price of silver as I write this column.  It is no wonder that gold coins appeal to many collectors and investors.  Like silver, gold coins also have numismatic (collector) value.  Older gold coins were typically made of 90% gold, but there are variations.  The U.S. Mint has offered a number of its more recent releases in 24 karat (99.9% pure) gold.  Many of the same rules apply to silver coins.  Older coins produced in smaller quantities and in better condition command a premium.

Of course, coins don’t have to be gold or silver to bring strong prices.  It was reported that a rare error coin with a Sacagawea dollar obverse and Washington state quarter reverse sold for $155, 250.  A Beverly Hills coin dealer paid a record price for a one cent coin.  The 1792 “Birch” cent sold for $2.5 million at auction, a pretty penny by all accounts.

Our Ashburnham auction is currently online featuring antique automobiles, vintage parts and antiques.  Coins and a wide variety of antiques and collectibles will be offered in our January 28^th live auction.  See www.centralmassauctions.com for links to both events.

Contact us at: Wayne Tuiskula Auctioneer/Appraiser Central Mass Auctions for Antique Auctions, Estate Sales and Appraisal Services www.centralmassauctions.com  (508-612- 6111), info@centralmassauctions.com